Denise Garcia- Church Visit #1

Denise Garcia- Church Visit #1

Church Name: Iglesia del Pueblo at Wheaton Bible Church

Church Address: 27W500 North Ave, West Chicago, IL

Date Attended: September 20, 2015

Church Category: Nondenominational church, predominantly Latino-American congregation

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The worship service I attended was very similar to my regular context (First Baptist Wheaton), as well as my home church (nondenominational church, predominantly Chinese Filipino congregation), in terms of how it was structured. The service began with singing a couple of worship songs and tithing (wherein the offering plates were passed around by ushers) followed shortly after. Then the message was preached and the service came to a close through a song of response and a final prayer. Despite the similarities, I also noticed a couple of differences. One of them included dismissing children and teenagers to Sunday school and youth worship after the offering. Another difference is the musical style, as Iglesia del Pueblo has a band and only contemporary worship songs were sung whereas First Baptist only has a full band once a month and in both First Baptist and my home church, both hymns and contemporary songs are sung during worship. There was also a lot more participation among the congregants not only during worship, but also whenever the pastor asked questions or said something that resonated with them during his message. I also noticed that as the service approached its end, it did not become more solemn, as it usually does when a congregation prepares to receive the benediction.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The most appealing aspect of the worship service was the way the congregation was engaged and responsive not only during worship, but also during the message. I couldn’t help but notice that when the pastor greeted the congregation at the beginning of his sermon, he received an audible and unified Spanish greeting back instead of hushed mumbles. I also sensed that people were very comfortable with each other and most worshipped together as families.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

I attended Iglesia del Pueblo’s Spanish service, and the most challenging aspect was the language because I do not understand Spanish. It was not as hard to figure out when to stand or greet people because I just kept watching the people around me for cues, but it was difficult to know whether the worship leader or pastor was leading the congregation in prayer or was just talking because not everyone bowed their heads or closed their eyes. Aside from the language barrier, I cannot think of anything else because the majority of the service style and structure were similar to the context I’m used to.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

The worship service illuminated the concept of the body of Christ very clearly to me. From the small details like pews filled with families (from grandparents to babies) to how prayers were not only about individual matters, but also included the problems of nations like Chile allowed me to understand how I am a part of something bigger and how my faith is and should be enriched by being in community and doing things together with fellow Christians.